Toothbrush



U.- L. ALBERS.

TOOTHBRUSH.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. I9I.

1,326,900. Patented @11.61920 ATTOR NEY.

ULFERT L. ALBERS, 0F E100, COLORADO.

TOUTE-BRSH.

Application led February 1, 1918.

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Unrnur L. Amarins, a citizen of the United States,residing at Rico, in the county of Dolores and State of Colorado, haveinvented certain new and useful improvements in Toothbrushes, of whichthe following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in brushes and particularly toothbrushes.

The principal object of my invention is to provide an article of thiskind which will effectively cleanse and dislodge the matter from theteeth and yet be simple in construction and easily manufactured.

Other important objects will appear as this description progresses,taken in connection with accompanying drawings illustrating onepreferred embodiment and where- 1n:-

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the improved brush with the coverthereon;

Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view through the tooth brush device andcover;

Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the tooth device;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the brush device;

Fig. 5 is an end view of the brush device opposite to Fig. 4, and

Fig. 6 is a cross sectional view line 6-6 of Fig. 2.

Referring specifically to the drawing, two brush heads 7 are preferablyemployed, they being of any suitable construction. The brush heads arearranged in close relation and are carried by shafts 8 and 9. On theseshafts, suitable spurs or gear wheels 10 are keyed and mesh with eachother. These gear wheels are preferably housed within a casingcomprising an outer section 11 and an inner section 12. The section 11has a flat end wall, said peripheral wall 14 extending therefrom andwhich is gathered to provide a projecting rib at 15. Section 12 issubstantially in the form of a disk, preferably having an inwardlyextending flange 16 soldered to the interior of wall 14. The walls 12and 13 serve as bearings for the shafts 8 and 9 and on the shaftssuitable spools or sleeves 17 are placed in order to properly space thegear wheels from the walls. Shaft 8 extends beyond the exterior of wall13 and is there provided with a suitable manipulating knob 18 preferablyhaving a knurled surface as shown.

It is desirable to employ a cover or protector which may be in the shapeillustrated on the Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 6, 1920.

Serial No. 214,874.

at 19. This cover is cylindrical being closed at the outer end and openat the inner end so that the casing 11-12 may slide thereinto withV thewall. 111- frictionally enga-ging the interior'of the cover and theextent of insertion in the casing being limited by rib 15.

A handle 20 is provided, preferably being pivoted at 21 to the exteriorof the wall 12. rilhis handle is so disposed that it may be foldedagainst the wall 12 without radial progection beyondit and hence it willnot interfere with the insertion of the casing into the cover 19. Thehandle 2O is adapted to be swung into the full line position of Fig. 8when the device is used. When the cover is in place, the handle is inthe position shown in full lines in Fig. 5.

For the purpose of sanitation, the device is usually kept in theposition shown in Fig. 1, where cover 19 frictionally engages wall 14and completely incloses and protects the brushes against the atmosphereand the impurities thereof.

In order to use the device, the cover 19 is removed so that the articlewill appear as shown in Fig. 3. When using the device, the handle 2O isswung to the full line position shown in Fig. 3 and grasped by thefingers of one hand while the lingers of the other hand may manipulatethe knob 18. Knob 18 is turned so as to turn the shaft 8, brush 7 andgear wheel 10. Since gear wheel 10 meshes with gear wheel 10', thelatter gear wheel is accordingly driven which imparts motion to theshaft 9 and to the brush 7 thereon. Both brushes as a result willreceive whirling motion and travel in opposite directions., The brushesare brought into contact with the teeth as usual and by reason of thefact that they may turn, matter adhering to the teeth can be more easilydislodged. At the same time7 the fact that the brushes revolve inopposite directions, enables the bristles to operate against the teethin opposite directions. When the operation is finished, the handle 20can be swung into the dotted line position of Fig. 3 which is the sameas the full line position of Fig. 5 whereupon the brushes may beinserted into the free end of the cover 19. rlhus the brush is always invery compact form which feature in addition to the sanitary feature,makes it a very desirable article for the traveler.

Since merely the preferred embodiment has been illustrated andchescribed, it is to be understood that changes in the details ofconstruction may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of theappended claim.`

It of Course should be understood that the handle of the brush may bemade oval, or in fact of any design which may be found oonvenientwithout departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is In a tooth brush, the combination with a easinghaving spaced parallel shafts extending therefrom and brushes on theends of the shafts, of a pivoted handle and a mounting for said handleeoeentrioally located on the face side of the easing at a point oppositethe shafts of said brushes which allows the handle'to be folded betweensaid shafts when not use.

In testimony whereof I aix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ULFERT L, ALBERS. Witnesses: o

E. B. CLARK, ALEX V. GORTER.

